Helped by god?

It is a nice sentiment to be told that when 'you want something, the entire Universe conspires in helping you achieve it.' Though, yes, it is a bit concerning to see that it will only be 'helping' you. I mean, it is not like you can just want something and roll over to the other side and continue sleeping with the expectation that you'll have what you want when you wake up. If you will only be 'helped' it means that you also need to be doing something towards it.

Nor is it like some desultory steps will suffice. I mean, it's not like you can just pop a couple of rupees into your piggy bank, when the mood takes you, and expect the Universe to help you get your BMW. It would seem like you need to really want whatever it is with the fervor that will make you work for it with enthusiasm and determination.

That much already seems like a bit too much but Tiru is not done with you yet, even if Coelho is. (This chap Paulo Coelho is who Google credits with that Universe conspires theory.) Tiru seems to think that the Universe will turn up its nose at some of the things you may want and gets picky about when it would enter the conspiracy. Or so Tiru says but, yes, he says 'God' and not 'Universe' since, in his times, they clubbed everything that their mind could not encompass under the heading 'God'.

Kudiseival ennum oruvarkku dheivam madithatruth thaan mundhurum - Tirukkural

God shall support he who has set out to work for the betterment of his people - Loose Translation

You know, it is a pity that the more colorful metaphors do not translate well into other languages, and you are left doing a bland job of communication. I mean, Tiru does not merely say 'support'. People who wear dhotis will understand that, when you set out to do physical work, you need to tighten the dhoti lest it falls off you during your exertions. So, what Tiru actually says is that God himself will tighten his dhoti and enter the fray in support. (Khaske baandke and all that, for the Hindi speakers). That creates a much stronger image of God as a supporter.

That 'his people' also is subject to a lot of interpretation. You could interpret it as family (though, in Tiru's days, even a nuclear family was possibly multiples of the size of our nuclear families and Tiru in all probability meant 'family' in the widest terms, not just the joint family, which would probably be the population of a good-sized town!); you could interpret it as community which may actually be your town or your caste or whatever; or you could interpret it as Society at large.

Whatever it be, Tiru does not expect God to mess around with his dhoti for your own personal needs. What you WANT should have a serious element of altruism in it before God bothers to take notice. Much more restrictive than that Coelho chap who thinks that the Universe will conspire to get you your yacht if that is what you want and are working towards in all earnestness.

But, yeah, in a way, Tiru has made it easy on himself. He is more likely to prove true because, as far as I have seen, people who work towards a larger goal generally tend to be much more dedicated to what they are doing. I mean, you could sort of moan about the pain and start thinking about whether you really want something for yourself. You are much less likely to take the call about not wanting it when it is someone you care for who is getting deprived in the process.

And, who knows, you may even get what you want without troubling God at all!